Metal lacing



Jgn. 7, 1936. E, BUTTERFIELD 2,

METAL LACING Original Filed Dec. 15, 1926 T I if IN VEN TOR.

= $zaJ1-.W-

MATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 7, 1936 V /v UNITED STATES METAL LACING Emory E. Bntterfield, Davenport, Iowa, assignor of one-half to Leland K. Ford, Chicago, Ill.

Refiled for abandoned application Serial No. 154,896, December 15, 1926. This application May 4, 1932, Serial No. 609,342

' 5 Claims. (c1. 24-205) This invention relates to improvements in metal lacings of the type adapted for use on overshoes, coats, vests and other articles formed of flexible fabric, and comprising rows of metal fasteners secured upon opposing edge portions of two pieces of fabric, as the opposing edges of a garment, and adapted to be interlocked to form a continuous fastening and to be disengaged by a movable slide, the present application being a reflle for abandoned application Serial No. 154,- 896 filed December 15, 1926.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved metal lacing of the general type referred to that will be simple in construction, of a durable, eflicient nature, and which can be easily operated to fasten and unfasten the. same.

Another object of the inventionis to provide an improved metal lacing of the type mentioned that will permit the metal lacing to be completely unlaced and the two pieces of fabric with which'the same is associated, to be entirely separated from each other.

A particularly important novel characteristic of the invention resides in the special separable end connection and stop for the slide that is provided, and which permits the rows of fasteners to be completely unlaced, prevents the slide. from being entirely detached from the garment, and provides for the ready reengagement of the series of fasteners.-

The invention, with other objects, novel features and advantages thereof,lwill be understood from the hereinafter contained detailed description, when considered in connection with theaccompanying drawing, forming part hereof and illustrating two embodiments of the invention.

While preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawing, it will of course be understood that minor changes and modifications may be made in the particular constructions shown, and the invention may be embodied in other forms, as will appeal to those skilled in the artand falling within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 shows the opposite edges of a garment equipped with the invention, with the edges detached.

Fig. 2 is a similar view with the parts attached, and laced.

' Fig. 3 shows the device applied to a different type of lacing.

Fig. 4 is a detail ofthe bar 8,

Fig. 5 is an end view of the parts 9 and I0, separated.

Fig. 6 is an end view of the opposing edge portions of a garment with the fasteners sepa rated and showing a slightly modified construction of fastener. I

Fig. '7 is an end view of the slide.

Fig. 8 is a transverse section of the slide on the line 8-8 of Figure 1 showing one of the series of rings and one of the series of spherical members in engagement with the slide.

Referring to the construction illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 4,5, 7, and 8 of the drawing, the numeral {designates one edge of a garment, such as a coat or vest, and 2 the opposing edge thereof. Fastened to the edge of the part I is a series of rings .3, said rings being provided with shank portions 4. To the edge 2 is attached a series of spherical elements 5 having shank portions 6. The shank portions (and 6 are provided at their inner ends with attaching eyelets,

said eyelets being disposed, as shown, with their flat faces against the fabric and being secured thereto by means of thread or small rivets (not shown). The spherical elements 5 are capable of interlacing with the rings 3 to form a continuous fastening, as shown in Figure 2. The rings and balls are offiset from their respective 7 supports, so that the lacing is at one side of the opening between the pieces of fabric.

Slidable on the lacing members 3 and 5 is a slide or traveler l by means of which said members are brought together-when the slide is moving in one direction, and permitted tov separate when the slide is moved in the opposite direction. The slide or traveler is provided at its under-side inwardly of its side edges with downwardly converging channels 1' and 1 ending in an opening 1 of suitable size for the passage of the balls and rings seriatim, the slide having outer side marginal portions 1 and I slidably engaging over the opposing edge portions land 2 of the garment at one side thereof, and a central wedge-shaped piece 1 The slide is provided with operating ring 1 the same being engaged with an eye on the-wedge-shaped piece I as shown. In the upward movement of the slide the balls and rings feed downwardly in the channels I and 1", respectively, and are interlaced in the operation. In the reverse movement of the slide the balls and rings are released.

At the lower end of the lacing, on the part I is a bar 8 on which is a loop or eye-member 9, and at the lower end of the lacing on an attaching plate portion In on the part 2 is a catch or hock member comprising a head portion III and a pin I 0. The loop or eye-member is adapted to receive the pin III of the catch or hook member, said members being isolated or separated from the series of rings 3 and balls 5, as shown, and constituting a separable end connection. The loop or eye member and the catch or hook member are offset laterally from the .bar 8 and attaching plate portion I0 so as to be in alinement respectively with the rings 3 and balls 5, and when connected with each other they form a continuation of the lacing and track upon which the slide or traveler I operates. Atv the lower end of the bar 8 is a lug II, which acts as a stop to prevent the slide or traveler from becoming entirely detached from that portion of the lacing which is on the part I. The head portion II) of the catch or hook member is of circular form to correspond with the shape of the balls 5 in end elevation; and upon the slide or traveler I being moved downwardly, the catch or hook member will follow the balls 5 along one of the forked channels I l thereof until the edges of the parts I and 2 are entirely separated.

To again attach theedges of the fabric, assuming the traveler I to be supported by the stop on the bar 8, the pin IIJ of the catch or hook member is inserted in the unoccupied fork of the slide or traveler and moved downwardly into engagement with the loop or eye-member 9. This brings the balls and rings into relative positions for re-engagement, and by moving the slide or traveler upwardly said elements are again interlaced. In this operation the catch or hook member acts as a'pilot, establishing the proper positions of the lower fastening members. In unlacing the parts of the garment, when the slide or traveler reaches the lowest point, and is interrupted by the stop II, the members 9 and III are still interlocked, the complete separation being effected by moving the catch or hook member upwardly in the slide or traveler. In the ordinary use of the device the slide or traveler I would be held immovably on the bar 8 with one hand, and the otherhand employed for moving the catch or hook member into or out of the slide or traveler.

While the separable end connection is shown suitable position.

The catch or hook member is adapted for connection with any of the rings 3 in the series, and it can be so connected if it is desired to leave a small opening at the end of the lacing, as for ventilation in the flap of a tent. The rings above the one with which the catch or hook member connects would be laced up in usual manner, by means of the slide or traveler.

In the modified construction illustrated in Figure 6 of the drawing, the fasteners have shank portions, which instead of having attaching eyelets as in the construction shown in Figure 1, are provided with clamping jaw attaching means for receiving the edge portion of a garment. In this view, I and 2' designate the opposing edge portions of a garment. 3 designates one of the series of rings, 5' one of the series of spherical elements, and 4' and 6' the shank portions of the fasteners.

In Figure 3 the separable end connection and stop for the slide are shown in use with a well known type of fastener, in which small bars alternate with each other on opposite edges of the fabric, and are provided with interlocking lugs and recesses. These lacings lie in the same plane as the fabric and are laced up and unlaced by a slide member in the usual manner of such devices. 5 In said Figure 3 there are shown two adiacent. pieces of fabric I3 and I4, to which are attached alternating series of fasteners I5 and I6, adapted for interlocking in the manner named. At the end of one row of said fasteners is a bar I1, pro- 10 jected from which is an eye I8, adapted to receive the pin of a catch I9 fixed to the opposite piece of fabric. The members I8 and I9 are in line with the fasteners, and adapted to receive a slide 20 (shown in broken lines) by means of l5 which the fasteners are laced and unlaced. In this form of lacing the slide operates on the outer ends of the fasteners I5 and I6, and is of double formation, a part of the slide being on each side of the fabric. The outer edges of the bar I! and 20 catch I9 also form guides for said slide, the downward movement of which is limited by a stop 2| on the lower end of the bar II. Said stop is of a double form, as shown in Figure 4. The slide 20 is shown at the lower end of the lac- :5 ing for the purpose of illustration only, as it would be at that point only when the fasteners are disconnected.

The operation of the lacing shown in Figure 3 is the same as that first herein described. When the slide 20 is at its lowest point the lower ones of the fasteners I5 and the catch I9 can be released therefrom, permitting the separation of the edges of the fabric, and to again connect such parts the catch is threaded downwardly into the slide and again engaged with the eye I8, bringing the fasteners I5 and I6 into proper lacing positions.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the class described, two pieces of fabric having opposing edges, interlacing fasteners comprising a series of rings secured to one of said edges and a series of spherical members secured to the other edge, said rings and spherical members being ofiset at one side of the opening between said edges, an isolated ring fastener on one of the pieces of fabric at one end of said series of rings and a stop beyond the same, a hook member on the other piece of fabric at the end of said series of spherical members for engagement with said isolated ring, and a slide operable on said series of fasteners and on said isolated ring and hook member.

2. In a device of the class described, two pieces of fabric having opposite edges, two series of interlacing fasteners attached in opposition to each other to the opposing edges of the pieces of fabric, said interlacing fasteners. comprising a series of rings and a series of spherical members having attaching shank portions and being offset therefrom so that the lacing is at one side of the opening between the pieces of fabric, an isolated ring fastener on one of the pieces of fabric at one 7 end of one of the series of fasteners disposed parfrom the slide when the slide is in engagement with said stop.

3. In a device of the character described, two

fabric strips adapted to be disposed in opposing relationship with their inner edges facing each other, of separable fastening means for closing said edges together comprising a series of spherical members having shank portions securing the same to the edge portion of one of said strips, and a complemental series of rings having shank portions securing the-same to the corresponding edge portion of the opposite strip, means for interlocking and for releasing the spherical members and rings, said means comprising a slide slidable only on the ring and spherical portions of the rings and spherical members, said spherical members and rings being offset from the plane of their respective shank portions whereby the interlocking spherical members and rings occupy positions projected outwardly beyond one face of the fabric strips with the major diameter. of the spherical members and rings lying substantially away from said face and correspondingly removed from the edges of the fabric strips and space therebetween and so that the lacing is at one side of the opening between the fabric strips.

4. In a device of the class described, two pieces of fabric adapted to be disposed in opposing relationship with their inner edges facing each other,

interlacing fasteners comprising a series of rings having shank portions securing the same to the edge portion of one of said pieces of fabric, and a series of spherical elements having shank portions securing the same to the edge portion of the other piece of fabric, a slide capable of uniting said rings and spherical elements in corded formation, said slide slidably engaging only the ring and spherical portions 0! the rings and spherical elements, a bar on one of the pieces of fabric at one end of the series of rings, a loop on said bar in line with said rings, and a hook member on the other piece of fabric at one end of the series of spherical elements having a head portion conforming in shape therewith in end elevation, said hook member being engageable with said loop, and said slide being slidable on said loop and hook member.

5. In a device of the class described, two pieces of fabric adapted to be disposed in opposing relationship with their inner edges facing each other, interlacing fasteners comprising a series of rings having shank portions securing the same to the edge portion of one of said pieces of fabric, and a series of spherical members having shank portions securing the same to the edge portion of the other piece of fabric, the ring and spherical portions of the ring and spherical members being offset at one side of the opening between said edge portions of the pieces of fabric, a slide capable of uniting the rings and spherical memhers in corded formation, said slide slidably engaging only the ring and spherical portions of the rings and spherical members, an isolated ring fastener on one of the pieces of fabric at one end of the series of rings, a hook member on the 

